Nothing to be gained

After a long moment, Aeris stepped out of the water, her skin glistening in the moonlight as she retrieved her clothing. With a casual flick of her fingers, she used a quick drying spell to rid herself of the water before dressing again.

The blood was gone, but the memory of the day’s events remained sharp in her mind.

As she made her way back to the carriage, Aeris felt a strange sense of clarity settle over her. She was no longer Nagisa Minazuki, the weak-willed office worker. She was Aeris Garland—powerful, calculating, and willing to do whatever it took to survive in this world.

And now, armed with her first title Goblin Slayer and the power of the System, she was ready.

The journey to the Academy was taking longer than expected, but Aeris didn’t mind. It gave her time to reflect, to plan, and to consider.

Her mind wandered through the endless possibilities the System had opened up for her.

What kind of class do I want to become?

Aeris tapped her fingers against her chin thoughtfully. The choices were vast, each offering its own set of advantages and power. She could focus solely on becoming an Enchanting Sorcerer, mastering magic to bend the very elements to her will. She could conjure storms, enchant weapons, and bend reality itself if she mastered enough spells.

Or perhaps she should delve into the path of an Assassin—a shadowy figure striking from the darkness, quick, silent, and lethal. The System could enhance her dexterity, speed, and stealth, turning her into an unmatched killer who could end lives before her enemies even knew she was there.

Then there was the Swordmaster route—an expert in blade and combat. With the right allocation of points and training, she could wield a sword with terrifying precision, blending magic with martial prowess.

The possibilities were endless.

As Aeris pondered, she barely noticed the slight slowing of the carriage. It wasn’t until a shrill scream cut through the defeating silence that her she snapped back to reality.

The carriage came to an abrupt halt.

Aeris looked out of the window and saw the source of the scream.

 Up ahead, a family was being accosted by a group of bandits. 

Ten of them, all clad in worn armor and carrying a mix of swords, axes, and bows. One of the bandits, standing slightly apart from the others, wore a long cloak and carried a staff—a spellcaster, no doubt.

These weren’t mindless goblins. The bandits moved with purpose, surrounding the family with cold efficiency. The father, a wiry man with a farming hoe clutched in his hands, was desperately trying to protect his wife and daughter. 

The mother cradled the small girl in her arms, shielding her from the leering bandits who jeered and mocked them.

Aeris narrowed her eyes. Goblins were predictable, stupid creatures, but these bandits were something else entirely—trained, ruthless, and clearly experienced in ambushing travelers.

Aeris could feel the weight of the situation settle over her. This wasn’t a random attack.

For a moment, she considered the option of simply avoiding the fight. 

There was no gain in saving peasants who couldn’t even defend themselves. After all, she wasn’t some hero meant to rescue the weak.

This world was survival of the fittest, and it had shown her that time and time again.

But then, her gaze settled on the little girl, her wide, tear-filled eyes clinging to her mother in terror. 

The way the girl whimpered, her small body trembling in fear, stirred something inside Aeris—a flash of anger, of protectiveness.

She reminds me of—

Her mind flashed to her little sister, sweet and innocent. A girl who still believed in a world that could be kind. 

Something deep inside Aeris roared to life, a fierce, protective instinct that she hadn’t felt in years.

That was all the motivation she needed.

Aeris opened the door of the carriage and stepped out, her cold eyes fixed on the scene in front of her. 

She took a deep breath, centering herself as the familiar surge of magic hummed beneath her skin.

 Without turning to look at the driver, she gave a simple command.

“Wait here.”

The driver didn’t argue. He knew better than to question the young lady of the Garland family.

With a single, powerful step, Aeris propelled herself forward, her form a blur as she moved with a speed enhanced by the System. 

In an instant, she positioned herself between the family and the bandits, her back to the cowering peasants. 

The father gasped, stumbling backward in shock at the sudden appearance of this strange woman standing between them and certain death.

Aeris stood tall, her expression cold and unyielding as she addressed the bandits.

“This is your only warning,” she said, her voice cutting through the air like ice. 

“Leave now, or you won’t leave at all.”

The bandits paused, momentarily surprised by her sudden appearance.

 Their leader, a tall man with a jagged scar across his cheek, let out a bark of laughter.

“You must be joking,” he sneered, stepping forward with a broad grin. 

“A little girl like you thinks she can take us on? I don’t know whether to laugh or pity you.”

The other bandits chuckled in agreement, clearly unafraid. 

One of them nocked an arrow and aimed it lazily at Aeris.

But Aeris didn’t flinch.

 Her eyes remained trained on the leader, her hands slowly rising as she summoned her magic.

The bandits made the first move.

The one with the bow released his arrow, sending it whistling through the air.

But Aeris was faster. With a flick of her wrist, she conjured a shield of ice, and the arrow shattered against it with a satisfying crack.

That was the signal for the rest of them to attack.

Four of the bandits rushed at her with swords and axes, while the others hung back, drawing their bows and readying to fire. The spellcaster remained where he stood, watching the scene unfold with a calculating gaze.

Aeris’ lips curved into a cold smile. Fools.

With a gesture, she summoned a trio of Ice Spears, the deadly shards of magic materializing in the air around her. She hurled them at the approaching bandits with deadly precision.

The first spear impaled one of the swordsmen through the chest, his body crumpling to the ground in an instant.

The second found its mark in the throat of an axeman, cutting off his war cry in a gurgle of blood.

The remaining two bandits hesitated, their eyes widening in fear as they realized the woman in front of them was no ordinary noble.

Aeris didn’t give them a chance to retreat.

With another motion, she cast Glacial Blast, a powerful wave of freezing air that engulfed the bandits, turning their flesh to ice in seconds.

Their screams were silenced as their bodies froze in grotesque poses, icy statues left to shatter in the wind.

The archers fired their arrows, but Aeris barely noticed.

She twisted her hand, and a shield of magic erupted around her, deflecting the arrows harmlessly.

One by one, she picked them off with icy projectiles, each hit sending another body to the ground.

Within minutes, the battlefield was littered with the corpses of the bandits, their blood staining the earth, mixing with the frost and ice that covered the ground.

All except one.

The spellcaster had not moved. He stood at the edge of the carnage, watching with an eerie calm as his companions were slaughtered.

His staff glowed faintly with power, but he made no move to join the fray.

Aeris turned to face him, her expression unreadable.

“You didn’t fight,” she said, her voice low, almost intrigued.

The spellcaster smiled, a slow, knowing grin.

“I prefer to observe,” he replied, his eyes gleaming with something Aeris couldn’t quite place.

For a moment, the two stood in silence, the tension between them palpable.

Aeris’ magic crackled in the air around her, ready to strike, but the spellcaster didn’t seem concerned.

“What now, sorceress?” he asked softly, tilting his head. “Will you kill me too, or shall we talk?”